From Aussie to Sheltie

That an aussies give me a god complex I enjoy. Lol. I was raised with beagles, and they loved you but whatever. Aussies, you are just the center of their world and you dint have to work to hard for that. Lol
 
Never met a prissy Sheltie myself, lol. They're much more sensitive tho, thinkers a lot of them, much more empathetic even than Aussie so God complex would be intact lollll and very handler focused.
But if you're looking for drive a Sheltie's got it! They're also smaller yes, but they take up as much time lol. Couch potatoes they are not, but do need gentle and positive handling
Key is to work with them :) just like any herding dog
 
Yay for God complex lol.

Yes, she was prissy. Lol. Drove me insane. But again she was special and a little darling.

I'm glad that they have some drive in a smaller package. I mean, aussie had a terrible off switch and rainy days? Forget burning off energy in the house, you would lose half of it. We would play games in the house with the sheltie to tire her out if we couldn't make it outside.
 
Let's just say my shepherd and male sheltie give me the God complex and my tri female sheltie reminds me to keep it real.

You know, my sheltie pup is up for anything I throw at him, but he has an off switch. My aussies, though, were couch potatoes.

I guess, looking at Cubs and Quay & Mayce (leaving the girls out of the picture). . . I wouldn't call him prissy but rather refined in his mind and his movements.

I can't wait til you get your pup and we get the post "OMG I have sheltie and I would never go back". You will totally have a blast with him.
 
Haha. Reminds you to keep it real. That's great.

Lucky you to have couch potato aussies lol. That's what I'm looking for though a nice off switch and something that won't go batty if we miss a day of hard stuff outside.

And you may hear me ssay that. I won't say it can't happen. Especially since I'm working so closely with the breeder. I want the boldest pup who is climbing over and under everything without delay. Lol. But not so crazy that he never naps. Lol. Mmmm, this may be hard. I want cuddly and I want bold, i want a quick learner but not so active minded he has to be busy constantly not sure if you can find that in the same package...lol.

I must admit. As nervous as I am about this breed change, I'm super excited to see who I'll be bringing home and how he fits into our lives. It's a long wait. I'm first on the list for a late summer/early fall litter. So so far. Lol.
 
On advice of people here . . . I read The Art of Raising A Puppy (delivered to my Kindle). I liked what it taught about the different personalities of pups and maximizing their potentials super early. When I went to meet my pup I asked questions of the breeder as well as performed a bit of evaluating using the test they recommended. It allowed me to confirm my choice.

The time will be here before you know it.
 
I have a Sheltie and have had many in the past. We are relocating from Singapore back to the US so we will now be able to have a second dog. My wife has been looking at miniature Aussies (American Sheppard) as they are more in line with the Sheltie size, especially the smaller ones. Of course, I am a Sheltie guy so would of course rather have an all Sheltie family.

Anyone had experience with the smaller breed Aussie? I presume they traits are the same.
 
The "Mini American Shepherd" or mini-Aussie tends to be a feisty little thing. It seems the big ones' traits are exaggerated -- higher energy, more aggressiveness, more work drive, etc. However, you still have the Aussie tendency of using physical response over mental.

Tell her they are psycho -- and that is a researched professional opinion involving vets, vet techs, breed rescue group, and message board discussions.

Choose a very different colored sheltie from what you have and you will be much happier.
 
Mom2Melli said:
I understand the female/male differences now. My girl is my partner and best friend. She is the other adult in the household like having a sister or college-aged daughter live with us. The sheltie and the shepherd boys are like children compared to her maturity.
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sclevenger said:
I just don't want a prissy dog, and our girl was. I'm not jumping on that, I'm not going through that, I'm not learning that, I just want to sit in your lap or chew on my bone over there. Lol.
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Good analogy - the girls are more like sisters and the boys like children. In the past I always had male Shelties, always active, but not the same drive I see in the females. Boys are a little more attention demanding too. I think the prissy thing depends on the upbringing. Females are quite feminine, but they're sheepdogs and should not be prissy.

And for your list

Super Velcro, yep, esp the males. My shelties have always been huge cuddlers, just as well because that coat just begs to be cuddled. They're pretty biddable breed so it's something they will learn.

Off leash - both my dogs are off leash a lot and have excellent recall, esp my boy (except around cars and bunnies). They are a true 'shepherd's dogs' by my side at all times.

Outdoor rugged. The Shetland Islands are small and pretty but they're rugged and I think that reflects in Shelties. I've done a lot of bush walking with my shelties, the coat is wash and wear. It can get more bindis and things sticking to it because they are closer to the ground, but there are ways to manage that. Mine will crash through anything to chase a rabbit, but they've done that from day dot so wouldn't know otherwise. Keep in mind the coat can make for some tangles in brambles.

Protective - oh yes, they will alert you of everything. Mind you, once someone crosses the threshold or talks nicely to them they're like butter and just want cuddles and pats. So too bad if a burglar is friendly.

Water obsessed. That's something you'll have to teach. A lot of people here take their shelties on the water and they love it. They aren't Labradors though.

Bold. This isn't a trait per se. Again, they aren't a Labrador, they're a sheep dog. But there is nothing you can't teach them to do. And my dogs have followed me into ridiculous situations because they just had to be near me. Testing the track without them doesn't happen. On the good side, they're so small I can throw them over my shoulder and keep on climbing or hiking.
 
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I loved your post Caro. Thank you.

I guess when I say bold it's aagain coming back to my exs sheltie In comparison. She was very cautious. We would try to get her to come across a log or jump up on a rock and she would just sit there and maybe whine or look for another way where as my Aussie would just jump without really needing asking. His first hike was at like 14 weeks old or something, I know it was right before his last round of shots and it was just a short hike, more like a stroll through the woods in our backyard, but we took him over small logs and rocks and he just went where I went. Sheltie was raised the same way, matter a fact she was with us that day and went around or refused anything he did at just a pup. She was cautious and yes it felt like prissy.

One story, Royce(aussie) was a little older and I crossed a log bridge, just over a short drop into some mud. My Royce came immediately, when his wobbly butt couldn't cross the log without falling, he went through the mud and up the hill to reach me. Luna (sheltie) nope, she just stood there whining and prancing around. Had me ex come over (they had a better bond) and we called and called her, she would go to the edge of the mud, stick one little paw in, Jerk back, and run away winning. My ex ended up having to go back across the log, and carry Luna all the way around so we could continue our hike because she just would not cross. Lol
 
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